newkerala.com - brings you latest news, info & entertainment

Bengal not to implement Land Boundary Agreement: Mamata

Kolkata, Dec 18 IANS | 1 year ago

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday termed the central government "shameless" for "forcefully introducing" the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) Bill in parliament, and said her state will not implement it.

"It is extremely unfortunate and shameless on the part of the union government to forcefully introduce the Land Boundary Agreement Bill in parliament just seconds before the sine die adjournment of the current session," said Banerjee, who has been vehemently opposing the LBA.

The bill, which provides demarcation of the boundary with Bangladesh, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday amid high drama, as members of Trinamool Congress and Asom Gana Parishad tried to prevent it.

Banerjee described it as a political gimmick of the Congress for serving its own interest.

"The unilateral act of introduction of the bill without consent of the state government has set an alarming trend of bulldozing and imposing an issue which involves not only West Bengal, but also Assam, Tripura and parts of northeastern states," she said.

"We are not accepting. The state government will not implement it. Not an inch of land of our state should be given away. Together, we will fight public battle for West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and northeastern region, including other parts of the country," Banerjee said.

Stating that West Bengal will get only about 7,000 acres but will have to cede nearly 17,000 acres to Bangladesh, Banerjee and her party has been vehemently opposing the Bill.

The union cabinet in February had approved the draft of the bill for implementing the LBA of 1974 and the protocol to it inked in 2011.